Breastfeeding: Ending it My Way

I breastfed my children until they were 24 months. My pediatrician and I agreed that I would continue to nurse for 12 more months after my girl’s first birthday. I enjoyed the bond that me and my kids shared, but at times I wanted a break. Once, I started feeling like I needed more free time. I knew that weening would be around the corner. But at the end of the day, I wanted to make sure that we all were ready and not just me. Below, I list the steps that helped make weening easier.

1. Talk about ending it. I talked with my girls about it, I and I encouraged them that drinking from cups like Mommy and Daddy was great.

2. Decrease feeding sessions. I slowly decreased the amount of milk I was giving them by feeding them a larger variety of table food.

3. Help your child replace it with something. I started only providing milk at night. My girls thought it was soothing and would fall right to sleep. As a result, I encouraged them to sleep with their blankie.

4. Encourage him or her to drink from a cup. Once breastfeeding was down to once or twice a day. I encouraged them to drink milk from a cup at night.

5. Spend some time away, briefly. When they were used to drinking from a cup, I took a 3 day trip, I think if I had stayed around them, I would have easily given in to their sad little faces. I spent time with my girls, which helped distract me from weening.

6. Ask for support. I received support from my husband, family, and friends. With their support I was able to stay strong and remain focused.

7. STOP! Lastly, I just stopped. I determined that No more, really meant NO MORE.
By following the steps above, I did not have to suffer with engorgement or pain. The process followed a steady progression and none of us suffered in the process.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: If you a mother that has breastfed your child/children and weened them please share your tips.

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I am a blogger, speaker, educator, wife, and mom to twins. After becoming a mother I have learned to realized that life is short. In the past, I use to analyze everything and everyone, but as I grow, I accept that loving others is what really matters in life. Through my blog I am sharing with you the love I have for my husband, my children, and myself. I am on a mission to cleverly help empower and uplift others so you too can enjoy your life and live freely.